Fan module

ABSTRACT

A fan module includes a fan, a bracket, a number of first fasteners, and a number of second fasteners. The bracket includes a base wall defining a number of locking holes. The fan includes a side plate defining a number of mounting holes. Each of the first fasteners includes a pole, a head portion, and a locking portion. A through hole is defined in the first fastener. A block protrudes on an inner surface of the through hole of the first fastener, aligning with the locking portion. Each of the second fasteners includes a shaft. The pole extends through the locking hole and the mounting hole of the fan. The shaft extends through the through hole of the first fastener to engage with the block, to deform the locking portion. Therefore the locking portion is locked to an inner surface of the side plate of the fan.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a fan module.

2. Description of Related Art

An electronic device often uses a fan for heat dissipation. The fan is installed in a case mounted in the electronic device. However, the fan is often fixed to the case through a plurality of screws, which is inconvenient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawing are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, all the views are schematic, and like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of a fan module in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, wherein the fan module includes a number of fasteners.

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, but viewed from another aspect.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, cutaway view of one of the fasteners of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway, assembled view of the fan module of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of an encircled portion V of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an embodiment of a fan module includes a bracket 20, a fan 40, a plurality of shockproof members 50, a plurality of first fasteners 60, and a plurality of second fasteners 70.

The bracket 20 includes a base wall 22. The base wall 22 defines a vent 221 defined in a center of the base wall 22, and defines four locking holes 222 in four corners of the base wall 22. Each locking hole 222 includes a large portion 223, and a small portion 224 communicating with the large portion 223.

The fan 40 includes a side plate 42 defining four mounting holes 422 in four corners.

Each shockproof member 50 is made of shockproof material, such as rubber. The shockproof members 50 are columnar and each axially defines a through hole 51. A locking slot 52 is defined in the circumference of the shockproof member 50.

Referring to FIG. 3, each first fastener 60 is a columnar sleeve and includes a pole 62, a head 64 formed from a first end of the pole 62, and a fixing portion 68 formed from a second end of the pole 62. A through hole 621 is axially defined in the first fastener 60, through the head 64, the pole 62, and the fixing portion 68. The outside diameter of the fixing portion 68 is the same as the pole 62. The inside diameter of the fixing portion 68 becomes less from a first portion of the fixing portion 68 adjacent to the pole 62 to a second portion of the fixing portion 68 away from the pole 62, which forms an acute angle a between extension lines of the inner surface and the outer surface of the fixing portion 68 along the axis direction of the first fastener 60. An annular and tapered block 682 is formed on an inner surface of the fixing portion 68. A plurality of splits 684 is defined in the fixing portion 68, parallel to the axis direction of the first fastener 60. The first fasteners 60 are made of resilient material, such as plastic or metal.

Each second fastener 70 includes a shaft 72 and a head 74 formed at one end of the shaft 72. An annular receiving portion 742 is defined in the head 74, around the shaft 72, as shown in FIG. 5. The outside diameter of the shaft 72 is suitable for close contact with the inner sidewall bounding the through hole 621 of the first fastener 60.

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in assembly, the shockproof members 50 are inserted into the corresponding locking holes 222 from the large portions 223. The shockproof members 50 are then pushed to the small portions 224. Therefore the shockproof members 50 are locked in the locking holes 222 through the wall bounding the small portions 224 engaging in the locking slots 52. The side plate 42 is in close contact with the shockproof members 50, with the blades of the fan 40 aligning with the vent 221. The mounting holes 422 align with the corresponding through holes 51. The pole 62 extends through the corresponding through hole 51 and the corresponding mounting hole 422. The fixing portion 68 extends out of the mounting hole 422 and is positioned at an inside of the side plate 42. A corresponding shaft 72 is inserted into the through hole 621, until the head 64 is received in the receiving portion 742. The shaft 72 presses the block 682 to deform the fixing portion 68 out to form a stop portion 686 protruding on the outer surface of the fixing portion 68, which forms an acute angle β (approximately same as the acute angle α) between extension lines of the inner surface and the outer surface of the fixing portion 68 along the axis direction of the first fastener 60. The stop portion 686 resists against the inner side of the side plate 42 to avoid the first fastener 60 releasing from the mounting hole 422. The shockproof members 50 are positioned between the side plate 42 and the base wall 22. The splits 684 are used to add elasticity of the fixing portion 68 to be easily deformed.

In disassembly, the shafts 72 are pulled from the through holes 621. The fixing portions 68 are restored to make the first fasteners 60 be easily released from the mounting holes 422.

In another embodiment, the shockproof members 50 are unnecessary. The base wall 22 defines four through holes to allow the first fasteners 60 extending through.

The fan module in this embodiment utilizes four first fasteners 60 and four corresponding second fasteners 70 to mount the fan 40 to the bracket 20, which is convenient. The shockproof members 50 can absorb the shock of the fan 40.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A fan module, comprising: a bracket comprising a base wall defining a plurality of locking holes; a fan comprising a side plate defining a plurality of mounting holes aligning with the locking holes of the base wall; a plurality of first fasteners each comprising a pole, and a head and a fixing portion respectively formed from opposite ends of the pole, wherein a through hole is axially defined in each first fastener; a block protrudes on an inner surface of the fixing portion; and a plurality of second fasteners each corresponding to one of the first fasteners, wherein each of the second fasteners comprises a shaft; wherein the pole of each of the first fasteners extends through one of the locking holes of the base wall and the corresponding mounting hole of the fan; the fixing portion extends through and expose out of the mounting hole and is positioned at an inner side of the side plate of the fan, the shaft of a corresponding second fastener is inserted into the through hole of the first fastener; the shaft presses the block to deform the fixing portion out to form a stop portion protruding on the outer surface of the fixing portion, the stop portion resists against the inner side of the side plate to prevent the first fastener from disengaging from the corresponding mounting hole.
 2. The fan module as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of shockproof members respectively locked to the locking holes of the base wall, for resisting against the side plate of the fan, wherein each of the shockproof members axially defines a through hole for the pole of a first fastener extending through.
 3. The fan module as claimed in claim 2, wherein the shockproof members are made of a shockproof material.
 4. The fan module as claimed in claim 2, wherein a locking slot is defined in a circumference of each of the shockproof members, each of the locking holes comprises a large portion and a small portion, the shockproof members are inserted into the locking holes from the large portions, the shockproof members are then pushed to the small portions to be locked in the small portions.
 5. The fan module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a diameter of the shaft is fit for close contacting the inner sidewall bounding the through hole of the first fastener.
 6. The fan module as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the second fasteners comprises a head formed from one end of the shaft, an annular receiving portion is defined in the head facing and around the shaft, for receiving the corresponding head of the first fastener.
 7. The fan module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of splits parallel to the axis direction of the first fastener is defined in the fixing portion of each first fastener.
 8. The fan module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first fasteners are made of a resilient material.
 9. A fan module, comprising: a bracket comprising a base wall defining a plurality of locking holes; a fan comprising a side plate defining a plurality of mounting holes aligning with the locking holes of the base wall; a plurality of columnar sleeve-shaped first fasteners each extending through the corresponding locking hole of the base wall and the corresponding mounting hole of the fan, with one end of the each of the first fasteners extending through and expose out of the mounting hole of the fan; wherein a through hole is axially defined in the first fastener; and a plurality of second fasteners each corresponding to each of the first fasteners, wherein each of the second fasteners comprises a shaft, the shaft is inserted into the through hole of the corresponding first fastener to expand the end of the first fastener to prevent the first fastener from disengaging from the corresponding mounting hole.
 10. The fan module as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a plurality of shockproof members respectively locked to the locking holes of the base wall, for resisting against the side plate of the fan, wherein each of the shockproof members defines a through hole for the corresponding first fastener extending through.
 11. The fan module as claimed in claim 10, wherein the shockproof members are made of a shockproof material.
 12. The fan module as claimed in claim 10, wherein a locking slot is defined in a circumference of each of the shockproof members, each of the locking holes comprises a large portion and a small portion, the shockproof members are inserted into the locking holes from the large portions, the shockproof members are then pushed to the small portions of the locking holes to be locked in the locking holes.
 13. The fan module as claimed in claim 9, wherein a diameter of the shaft is fit for close contacting the inner sidewall bounding the through hole of the first fastener.
 14. The fan module as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first fasteners are made of a resilient material. 